Super Bowl, Seahawks, Richard Sherman: Readers sound off

Super Bowl

West invasion
of New Jersey/New York

After almost half a century, the greater New York City area finally lands a Super Bowl. Amid the still-prevalent mindset that New York is the center of the American universe, I find it fitting that the two competing teams come from 1,800 and 2,900 miles away.

This Super Bowl will at long last pound home a horrifying fact to the eastern ego — that in the Rockies and beyond lies a relevance equal to theirs!

— Lew Witham, Seattle

Seahawks
by the numbers

The airwaves have been blue (and green and silver) with hype surrounding the Hawks’ trip to the Super Bowl on Sunday. Everyone from a not-quite 4-year-old girl who knows every player by name, position, and number to an astrologer has weighed in on the Hawks’ prospects.

So I thought I’d do a little numerology of my own. This is Super Bowl LXVIII – 48. Russell Wilson wears No. 3 – 3 is a factor of 48 (3×16). Marshawn Lynch wears No. 24 – 24 is a factor of 48 (24×2). The fans are No 12 – 12 is a factor of 48 (4×12). It’s 8 years since the Hawks last went to the big dance – 8 is a factor of 48 (8×6)

This is our year, baby! Go, Hawks!

— Carol Lake, Kirkland

Story brings
tears to eyes

I must admit I had tears in my eyes after I read Jack Broom’s story (“Seahawk-loving dad would love to hear I’m going to Super Bowl,” Wednesday) column. I grew up just off the UW campus, and my dad and I attended Husky and Seahawks games for many years. He died in 1986 and I will miss watching the Super Bowl with him but I know he will be present in his own way. We attended the very first Seahawk game together on Aug. 1, 1976 against the 49ers – what a great memory!
He gave me one of my most prized possessions several years ago — a wood, framed box of the Seahawks 1976 helmet — proudly displayed on our fireplace mantle. When I look at it I feel like it is me and my dad watching he game.

— Brian Vervynck, Mill Creek

Let it rip,
Warren Moon

I loved Steve Raible’s zealous call of the winning play, and Warren Moon’s hysterical elation made me cry at the end of the NFC Championship Game. Steve’s cracking voice and Warren’s shriek enriched a great Seahawk moment, and are far more meaningful then anything a calm broadcaster can bring to the fan experience. Your passion keeps the colors brighter and my emotions hard to control. Thank you.

— Kathleen Williams, Clinton

Is 12th Man
politically correct?

I am surprise the 12th Man can still be used in our politically correct state. Bring on the 12th person!

— Rodney Thornley, Seattle

Richard Sherman

Master of
his craft

Wanted: Black gladiators who risk their lives entertaining us, yet speak like politically correct pacifist clergymen when some reporter sticks a mike in their face at the peak of combat.

I’ve heard white movie stars speak far more thuggish words at posh Hollywood award ceremonies than Richard Sherman ever said in public. But we want our black athletes to confine their mojo to the game. The moment they reveal some rebelliousness or aggression off the field, they threaten white hegemony.

Richard Sherman grew up in the hood, his father was a garbage collector, and he was poor. All around him, young men were joining gangs. But he chose to be a straight-A student, went to Stamford, and became the best in his profession. I wish I could be nearly the master of my craft that he is of his.

Thank you, Sherm. You are an inspiration. May the force be with you in the Super Bowl.

— Fred LaMotte, Steilacoom

What about the
media’s role?

In all the coverage of Richard Sherman’s rant, I haven’t seen anything that mentions the role that the media played in creating what happened. It seems ridiculous to think that you could catch someone coming directly off the field after one of the most important/highest energy plays of his career and expect him to say, “I’d like some grey Poupon, please!”

A few moments for the hero to gather himself would have been decent (although unthinkable for the media) and made for quite a different result. Either that or we could just cut him some slack.

— Mary Mitchell, Seattle

Refreshingly
unvarnished view

Richard Sherman was deliciously himself, a young athlete celebrating victory on the playing field. He represented many athletes, how they actually feel, and must feel to compete and win. The mainstream media produces a homogenized fairytale that they like to present to the public, with ritualistic story lines about the player’s mother, the team, coach and country. Richard departed from the script, was his outrageous self, and completely befuddled the interviewer who could not find his storyline in the prepared script. Sherman did not attain the unvarnished in-your-face righteousness of Ali, Joe Willie, and Michael, but he took a step in the right direction, and it was refreshing.

— Eli Whitman, Seattle

Line worth
of Shakespeare

The best part of this is the after-rant. Sherman tweeted his detractors a parable “a lion does not concern himself with the opinions of a sheep”. It is the most enjoyable part of the whole discourse. It is a line worthy of Shakespeare.

— Ed Rice, Mercer Island

Raul Ibanez

Shining example
for older athletes

Thanks to Geoff Baker for another excellent article, this time about Raul Ibanez. This was a great look at what it takes for a 41 year-old man to still compete at the major-league level.
Barry Bonds went about achieving top results by injections of steroid cocktails. For those who say that steroids are OK and should be allowed, I ask whether you would rather have Barry Bonds or Raul Ibanez? Raul is a shining example to hard-working, non-cheating athletes everywhere. This is what sports, and life, should be about!

— Mike Shaw, Edmonds

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Want to be a reader contributor to The Seattle Times’ Take 2 blog? Email your original, previously unpublished work or proposal to Sports Editor Don Shelton at dshelton@seattletimes.com or sports@seattletimes.com. Not all submissions can be published. The Times reserves the right to edit and publish any submissions online and/or in print.

Have something to say?

Want to be a reader contributor to The Seattle Times’ Take 2 blog? Email your original, previously unpublished work or proposal to Sports Editor Don Shelton at dshelton@seattletimes.com or sports@seattletimes.com. Not all submissions can be published. The Times reserves the right to edit and publish any submissions online and/or in print.